In support of libraries, education and lifelong learning, the State has awarded more than $21.4 million in grants for library services and more than $5.7 million in adult literacy grants for literacy programs to more than 140 Illinois recipients.
The projects receiving grants met the following criteria:
- Support educational mentoring programs that engage students in active learning.
- Fund online catalogs and provide resources aimed at narrowing the digital divide.
- Provide educational and training opportunities for library staff members
- Train volunteers who tutor older teens and adults in basic reading, math, writing and language skills.
- Enhance family literacy programs for parents and children that focus on basic reading, math, writing, and language skills.
- Provide workplace literacy programming to employees of Illinois businesses.
- Allow access to news and reading materials for those who are vision impaired, or have other physical limitations.
- Expand free statewide sharing and delivery of materials between libraries and patrons.
The following programs from Kane County were among the awardees:
Aurora: Dominican Literacy Center, Adult Volunteer Literacy, $50,000;
Elgin: The Literacy Connection, Adult Volunteer Literacy, $80,485; YWCA Elgin, working with children ages 0-2 years, Family Literacy, $50,000; YWCA Elgin, working with children ages 2-5 years, Family Literacy, $50,000;
St. Charles: Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley, Adult Volunteer Literacy, $43,960.
—Al Benson